This shrimp burger recipe is juicy and so satisfying! Throw it on a bun with a creamy sauce or serve over greens for a tasty meal.
You can make just about anything into a burger, from chicken to seafood to vegetables. So why not try a shrimp burger? Turns out, these succulent shellfish make a surprisingly juicy and satisfying patty. Slathered with a creamy sauce and served up on a bun, it’s a hearty meal that we like even better than its cousin the salmon burger. Or, serve it over greens and a dipping sauce for a different (and gluten-free) spin!
Ingredients in this shrimp burger recipe
This shrimp burger recipe is simple to whip up with minimal ingredients: most of the ingredient in list is spices! While it does feel a little sad to grind up these beautiful shellfish instead of cooking them into say, garlic shrimp, what results is a succulent, juicy burger that is a unique way to eat this seafood! Here’s what you need:
- Shrimp
- White onion
- Garlic
- Fresh parsley
- Spices: smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, fennel seed, cumin, and cayenne
- Olive oil
Tips on how to make shrimp burgers
To whip up a shrimp burger, all you need is a large food processor to grind up the shrimp. Simply whiz the shrimp together with seasonings, form them into patties, and then either pan fry or grill them. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- This recipe makes 4 large burgers. If you prefer, you can make smaller burgers or even make them into smaller patties that are easy to dip.
- Form the burgers, then refrigerate 15 minutes. This helps them firm up prior to pan frying. Use this time to make the burger sauce or prep other parts of the meal.
- Pan fry 4 minutes per side. Fry in olive oil until they’re golden brown on both sides and the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Or, grill the shrimp burgers! Brush the patties with olive oil and grill on direct medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Sauce ideas
The best part of shrimp burgers? All the toppings! This shrimp burger recipe is delicious smothered in a creamy sauce. Here are a few of the sauces we like the best:
- Try Creamy Mustard Sauce, a delightful mixture of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard (pictured)
- Go for an aioli like Chipotle Aioli, Sriracha Aioli, Pesto Aioli or Truffle Aioli
- Smother it with Basil Pesto
- Try classic Remoulade or Tartar Sauce, traditionally served with fish
- Go for Special Burger Sauce, which combines ketchup, mayo and mustard into one sauce
Burger topping ideas
Aside from the sauce, there are so many other ways to top a shrimp burger! We went simple with tomato, lettuce and red onion. Here are a few ideas for toppings:
- Tomato
- Lettuce or microgreens
- Pickled red onions
- Pickled peppers
- Guacamole
- Cheese (smoked gouda, fresh mozzarella)
- Sauteed mushrooms
Other ways to serve shrimp burgers
Don’t want to serve them in a bun? Often we eat burgers over greens, on a plate with a small cup of dipping sauce. Drizzle the greens with salad dressing before you place the patty on top. Or you could even serve the burger on a plate with the dipping sauce and a few easy sides.
Tips for buying shrimp
There are many different sizes and types of shrimp that you can buy at the store. However, a shrimp burger recipe is pretty forgiving since you grind up the shrimp before cooking it! Here’s what we recommend:
- Any size: Size doesn’t matter here since the shrimp will be ground before cooking.
- Peeled and deveined: Use fully peeled shrimp for quick and easy prep, or you can peel your own.
- Wild caught: Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.
- Fresh or frozen: Frozen shrimp can be as high quality as fresh, if it’s frozen as soon as it’s caught. Make sure to thaw the shrimp before you start!
More shrimp recipes
Love this juicy seafood? Here are a few more of our favorite shrimp recipes that make easy meals:
- Go for tasty Shrimp Nachos
- Mix up Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
- Try quick and simple Garlic Shrimp or an Easy Shrimp and Rice Skillet
- Make zingy Shrimp Ceviche
This shrimp burger recipe is…
Gluten-free (sans bun), dairy-free, and pescatarian.
Print
Shrimp Burger
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Rest Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This shrimp burger recipe is juicy and so satisfying! Throw it on a bun with a creamy sauce or serve over greens for a tasty meal.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 medium white onion, roughly chopped
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon fennel seed (optional)
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne, optional
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
- Mustard sauce, tartar sauce, or remoulade
Instructions
- Remove all shells from the shrimp, rinse it, and pat it dry.
- In a food processor, pulse the onion and garlic several times until minced. Add the shrimp, parsley, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, fennel, cumin, and cayenne. Pulse 15 to 20 times until ground, but not pureed. Form the mixture into 4 patties and place them on a plate or in a sealed container. Refrigerate 15 minutes to allow them to set.
- In a large, heavy bottomed, skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Cook 4 to 5 minutes per side until browned and interior temperature reaches 145°F. Alternatively, brush the patties with olive oil and grill on direct medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side and interior temperature reach 145°F.
- Serve on burger bun with lettuce, tomato and onion slices, along with mustard sauce, tartar sauce or remoulade.
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stovetop or Grilled
- Cuisine: Seafood
- Diet: Gluten Free
Keywords: Shrimp burger
